Attachment fitting for plaster panels



Aug. 27, 1968 E. F. VENZIE, JR

ATTACHMENT FITTING FOR PLASTER PANELS Filed Jan. 12, 1967 INVENTOR EDMOND F. VENZIE, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,398 982 ATTACHMENT FITTING FOR PLASTER PANELS Edmond F. Venzie, In, Blue Bell, Pa. National Plaster Block Mfg. Co., 2238 N. 27th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19132) Filed Jan. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 608,846 4 Claims. (Cl. 287189.35)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An attachment fitting for plaster panels that connects plaster panels together vertically and horizontally and to upright studs.

Field of the invention This invention relates to attachment fittings for connecting plaster panels and for holding them together and to vertical studs.

Description of the prior art The clips or fittings presently available for fastening plaster panels together and to lath are usually made of round wire. Such clips are prone to breakage, are easily distorted and do not provide the rigidity demanded by their users.

Other clips of metal stock have been used but they also fail to provide a satisfactory usable rigid structure. In addition two separate clips have heretofore generally been required, one to fasten the plaster panels together and one to fasten the panels to the stud or other support.

Summary of the invention The principal object of the present invention is to provide an attachment fitting for plaster panels that is sturdy and has an inherent rigidity which is lacking in clips heretofore employed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment fitting for plaster panels, preferably made of sheet metal, that is inexpensive and light in Weight.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment fitting for plaster panels that is noncorrosive and of long life.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment fitting for plaster panels that can me easily and quickly installed by unskilled help.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a single attachment fitting for plaster panels that replaces the multiple clips presently used.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

Brief description of the drawing The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the attachment fitting in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing the attachment fitting in installed position on both sides of a stud;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Patented Aug. 27, 1968 ice Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Description of the pr ferred embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawings and FIG. 1 thereof, an attachment fitting 10 is there illustrated and which is provided with a central body portion 11 of fiat rectangular shape which extends horizontally the length of the fitting. The body portion 11 is of sufficient width to support one thickness of plaster panel, which in the embodiment illustrated is of three eights of an inch in thickness. The central body portion 11 as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 has a thickness of 18 gauge to provide a relatively fiat appearance in place but any other thickness can be used if desired, but not so as to separate the panels in use. At each end of the central portion 11 a pair of outer or front tongues 12 and a pair of inner or rear tongues 14 are provided.

The tongues 12 and 14 are integral with body portion 11 extend vertically upwardly in parallel relation and are separated a distance sufficient to allow one thickness of plaster board to pass between them.

The rear tongues 14 each have an angularly inclined lip portion 15 at the top thereof and at a rearward inclination to guide the plaster panel upon insertion between the tongues 12 and 14, and for locking, as pointed out below.

The central body portion 11 between the tongues 12 and 14 is provided with an integral vertical downwardly extending front retaining plate 17 and an integral vertical downwardly extending rear retaining assembly 18.

The front plate 17 is preferably flat, of rectangular configuration and extends between the front tongues 12.

The rear retaining assembly 18 has a central panel 20 and two struck out panels 21 joined by the central panel. The panel 20 has a rib 22 on the bottom thereof between and connecting the panels 20 and 21 and which provides a stiffening effect to the panels 20 and 21.

The panels 21 which are struck out from panel 20 provide slots 24 between their upper edges 25 and the rear edge 26 of the central body portion 11 for insertion onto a wall stud.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the attachment fitting 10 is shown in assembled position. The stud 30', of conventional type with flanges 31, may be fastened to any suitable surface or as shown here between a pair of plaster panels 33. The fitting 10 is pressed over the flange 31 of stud 30 with the flange 31 entered into one of the slots 24 and is retained thereon by frictional engagement.

The lip portion 15 is inclined along the stud 30 and aids in looking in position.

The fitting 10 is slid down over the upper edge 34 of a plaster panel 33 with the front retaining plate 17 in front of the panel 33 and the rear retaining assembly 18 behind the panel 33 so that the plaster panel 33 is gripped between the panel 20 and front portion 17.

Additional plaster panels 35 and 36 can be inserted down onto the top of body 11 and between one each of the tongues 12 and 14 respectively.

The fittings are preferably made as stampings of galvanized sheet metal and as shown involve a minimum of waste in their manufacture. Other suitable noncorrosive rigid materials maybe used, if desired.

It will thus be seen that an attachment fitting has been provided with which the object of the invention are attained.

I claim:

1. An attachment fitting for plaster panels having front and rear faces and edges which comprises:

a flat central body portion for panel edge engagement having a side margin,

spaced pairs of front and rear panel face retaining members connected to said body portion and extending perpendicularly from one face of said body portion in parallel relation,

2. front plate connected to said central body portion and extending perpendicularly from the other face thereof, and

a rear retaining assembly connected to said body portion and extending from said other face thereof in parallel relation to said front plate,

said rear retaining assembly including a central panel with two end panels connected thereto in offset relation,

said end panels having margins spaced from the central body portion to provide slots between said end panels and the body portion for insertion onto a stud flange,

at least a portion of each of said slots extending along said side margin of said central body portion.

2. An attachement fitting for plaster panels as defined in claim 1 in which:

said pairs of retaining members are disposed upwardly,

and

said front plate and said rear retaining assembly are disposed downwardly.

3. An attachment fitting for plaster panels as defined in claim 1 in which:

the rear retaining members have locking portions s aced from said slots.

4. An attachment fitting for plaster panels as defined in claim 1 in which:

said rear retaining assembly includes a central panel with two end panels connected thereto in offset re lation, said end panels have margins spaced from the central body portion to provide slots between said end panels and thebody portion for insertion onto a stud flange,

said pairs of retaining members are disposed upwardly,

and 1 said front plate and said rear retaining assembly are disposed downwardly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

W. L. SHEDD, Assistant Examiner. 

